Moulding apparatus



P P atefited Apr. 24, T956 2,742,683 Monmmc ani us V Erwin 'Knipp and Walter oen runkeraai,- Germany, assignors to Junkerath'er Gewerkschaft, Junker-nth, 'Germany aGerman'company j Application my 23, 'iss'a senalnogsooass' 1 Claims priority, application'GennanyJulyds, 1951 's'iilaii 's. tel-2242 For :theprodu'ction of =casting-moulds, 'many kinds of moulding apparatus are known which, inter alia, are" provided with turnover devices for the moulds or moulding-boxes, which are secured-on 'a turnoverlplate.

In contrast thereto, the ;present invention relates to moulding apparatus, in which 'known moulding boxes of any s'ize andof any shape may be 'used audturned-over without a turnover plate or thelilce havingto be'provided. The operation need thus not be adapted to apparatus of a particular kind, but the mouldin g boxesavailable may be rammed and turned-overlay means of the moulding apparatus of the invention.

Theiessentialfeature of'the'invention'is that the moulding apparatus is provided with a holding device which engages the moulding-boxes laterally "and enables the moulding-boxes 't'o 'be"turn'e'd about a horizontal axis, for which purpose'it may be'raised. The holding device is providedwithtwo claws, at least one 50f which .iszmovable towards the other 'anclwhich grip the mouldingbox by frictional engagement. Thebearingpressure'required for thispurpose may be exerted by a spring, aweig'ht orthe' like, or advantageously {by power-operated cylin- G ders Wihpneurnatic, hydraulic, or like .pressure 'i'nea'ns.

"By inean's'df the holdin device accordng to the invention, it is even posi'ble to grip :and turnover mouldingboxes whichare not provided with any retainingmenrbers or thelikeby which they can be suspended or turned-over, and .one single holding device -can .-grip boxes 0f widely different widths,lengths and sections. It is thus possible to treatwith the one moulding apparatus at least a very large proportion'of the boxes available in a foundry.

The holding-claws may be mounted on brackets or like supports, or they may be mounted in movable frames. The range of dimensions of the moulding-boxes that can be gripped, is particularly large when the holding-claws are provided on tong-like movable arms, the arms for the surface or outer faceof the moulding-box, so that 'suflicie'nt friction is created between the moulding-box and the plates,no matter whetherit isa cast moulding-box,

or a steel box formed with ridges, grooves, reinforcing ribs or .the like. I 3

if considered necessary in individual cases,'the gripping plate maybe bounded-at the top and/or at the bottom by supporting surfaces which, when heavy mouldingboxe's, or boxes difiicult to'ho'ldare used, or when there are strong vibrations during moulding, will-hold the box atits bottom edge should "the frictional engagement for any particular reason be insuflicient.

instead of rotatable claws, it isin certain cases possible to use-stationarygauge-points, provided that the moulding boxes are formed with corresponding recesses.

The turnover device according to the inventioni's of great advantage both in the mechanical hand-mouldingof moulding-boxes of very diiierent types and sizes, and also for moulding series-produced articles.

The charging of the moulds -'is preferably efiected by means of slinging machines, known as slingers, which throw the sand at high speed into the moulds. The turnover device renders it also possible 'for the moulding-sand to be rammed-in or fed in any other manner and, if necessary to beconsolidated.

One construction of apparatusaccording to the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way 'ofex'ample in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a'front elevation, a

Figure 2 is a corresponding side elevatiom'and;

Figure 3 is a corresponding plan. 7

To the rear of the work-table ion which are mounted holding-device consists of two tong-arms 1d and 1'1 which are rotatable about the axes 8 and 9 respectively, andw'hich can be swung in the horizontal plane inone difection by a pressure-cylinder 12,- the return-movement in the opposite direction jbeing 'ei'recte'd by means of springs or th'eflike.

' The pressure-cylinder d2 rnay be apressi re-cylir1der havholding the box by means of claws being closed to a greater or lesser extent according to the size of the moulding-box. v

In all cases it will be necessary to mount the actual gripping claws so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis. In some cases it may be sufficient if one of the claws only is movable axially to a considerable extent, though the mobility of both claws affords the advantage that the moulding-box may be brought into alignment with the ramming or feed-device by means of the claws or the arms supporting it.

According to the invention furthermore, the claws are each provided with a flexible pressure device, such as a rubber plate, with which they engage the outer wall of the moulding-boxes. The moulding-boxes are thusheld substantially by frictional engagement. The resiliency of the gripping plate may be increased by having it supported on counter-springs or the like.

By using the resilient gripping plate, it is possible to grip moulding-boxes the outer walls of which may be of any shape or height. The gripping plate clings closely to but in synchronism.

nrg twopistons, the movement of the tong-a'rnis 'being determined according to the resistance,- 0: two[cylinders may be provided and then -'each-arrn 'is moved separately Instead of the pressure-cylinder 12 it isalso possible to use a mechanical actuating device,

operated for example, by means of spindles and the v like, or to use electro-magnetically acting; means. At the forward ends of the tong-arms 1t), 11 there are mounted in bearings 15, 16 and rotatable about their own axes, claws 17, 18, the forward ends of which are each provided with gripping plates 19, 20 respectively consisting of rubber. The moulding-box 25 passed on to the roll-out table and resting on a supporting board, is

" gripped laterally by these plates as soon as the pressurecylinder 12 is supplied withpressure means. The moulding-box is then securely held between the gripping plates and may be fed with sand by means of the slinger 5. When a moulding-box'is completely filled, it is at first raised by means of the holding device. For this purpose, the tongs device consisting of the arms 10, 11 and the pressure cylinder 12, are'mounted in a yoke 26 and may be raised and lowered as a unit on the column 3. The yoke 26 is, provided with pressurecylinders 27, 28 in which are mounted plungers 30, 31 which are securely supported in the base 29.

When the cylinders 27, 28 are supplied with pressure means, they are raised and take along with them the are at the same time formed as axes of rotation for the tong-arms 10, 11. Besides being moved up and down the holding device may also be provided to be rotatable about a horizontal axis.

As the gripping plates 19, 20 and the claws 17, 18 respectively, are mounted so as to be rotatable about the axes 15 and 16, the moulding box, when raised, may be turned-over without any difficulty. When the top part moulding box cope is filled, the moulder may lift and turn it over by means of the holding device and then place it on to the previously filled bottom part moulding box drag. During operation, the moulding boxes may be pushed backward and forward on the roll-out table as desired, so that hand-moulding is considerably facilitated and accelerated.

Hand levers 40, 41, or press-buttons, controlling the movements of the tong arms, are advantageously provided at the front part of the roll-out table, so that they are within easy reach of the moulder. It is also possible to operate with pedals.

When the mould is finished, it may be conveyed further along the roller-bed, so that the boxes may be continuously filled.

The completion of the operation is accelerated by using the slinger 5. The moulding sand is fed to the slinger through a funnel 32, which is charged by means of an elevator, a conveyor-belt, or by means of the discharge device of a superposed bunker. From the funnel 32 the sand is passed through the swivel-control 33 into the telescopic guide-chute 34, through which the sand is passed into the actual slinger 5, which is, for example, suspended on springs 35, so as to be easily movable, and may thus be moved without difliculty over the whole area of the moulding-box. 36 is a handle by means of which it is possible to swivel the slinging device 5 with its accessories about the column 3. The whole slinging device, together with the feed-device, the springs, and the handle 36, are mounted on a swivel arm 37, which is rotatable in a horizontal plane around the column 3, so that it may be swung into and out of position without difficulty.

We claim:

1. In the production of casting moulds, means for turning over the moulding boxes comprising a pair of gripping arms each mounted at one end thereof for a vertical walls of said moulding boxes, and means for swivelling said arms toward each other to effect positive engagement of said claw members with said walls.

2. In the production of casting moulds, means for turning over the moulding boxes comprising a pair of gripping arms each mounted at one end thereof on a pillar for a swivelling movement in a horizontal plane and for a limited vertical movement, bearings having axes 1 extending horizontally from the other end of said arms,

swivelling movement in a horizontal plane, bearings hav- 4 ing axes extending horizontally from the other end of said arms, gripping claw members rotatably mounted in said bearings for frictional engagement only with the gripping claw members rotatably mounted in said bearings for frictional engagement only with the vertical walls of said moulding boxes, and means for swivelling said arms toward each other to effect positive engagement of said claw members with said walls.

3. In the production of casting moulds, means for turning over the moulding boxes comprising a pair of gripping arms each mounted at one end thereof on a pillar for a swivelling movement in a horizontal plane and for a limited vertical movement, bearings having axes extending horizontally from the other end of said arms, gripping claw members rotatably mounted in said bearings for frictional engagement only with the vertical walls of said moulding boxes, friction linings on said gripping claws, and means for swivelling said arms toward each other to effect positive friction engagement of said claw members with said walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,646 North Mar. 27, 1883 1,558,577 Beardsley et al Oct. 27, 1925 1,786,672 Morris et a1 Dec. 30, 1930 1,837,320 Furman Dec. 22, 1931 1,880,138 Hubl Sept. 27, 1932 1,932,023 Pflager Oct. 24, 1933 1,958,846 Christensen May 15, 1934 2,092,329 Piper Sept. 7, 1937 2,112,830 Corbin Apr. 5, 1938 2,205,093 Hagerneyer June 18, 1940 2,267,355 Van Riper Dec. 23, 1941 2,686,945 Williams Aug. 24, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,287 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1915 of 1914 444,748 Germany May 28, 1927 

